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Hello Everyone,
I have been reading over the forum posts in regards to dating the Winchester Model 69A, as I recently acquired one from my Father’s Estate. I grew up shooting this rifle and I now use it to train my own sons.
I decided to try to determine the age of this rifle, and after reading quite a few posts, including a most informative guide by Lefty38-55,I think I kinda narrowed it down between 1956 and 1960 but I was wondering if someone here could help narrow it better?
I put up pictures on a website that you can check out, any help would be appreciated. -> ( 1776ReduxClothing . com/69a )
The barrel is stamped “56” on the underside, no photo of that.
I have no plans on selling it, but at the same time I am curious as to its value if anyone would care to chime in on that aspect as well?
Thanks guys, I appreciate all the good information I was able to read so far!
Allan
Allan,
The “56” is the year the barrel was manufactured, and in most cases is a good indication of when the rifle was assembled.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks for the reply Bert. The part that confused me is below. Mine has a chrome trigger guard but not a chrome dash plate?
Chromed firing pin spring caps and then chromed bolts were introduced in 1957, and chromed trigger guards and magazine dash plates were used in the early ’60s.
Alan,
Hopefully Jeff (JWA) will see this topic and provide then you with a definitive answer… he wrote the reference book about the Model 69/69A.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Allan M said
Thanks for the reply Bert. The part that confused me is below. Mine has a chrome trigger guard but not a chrome dash plate?
Chromed firing pin spring caps and then chromed bolts were introduced in 1957, and chromed trigger guards and magazine dash plates were used in the early ’60s.
Hi Allan,
You have a nice looking rifle. Thanks for the photos, they really help narrow down your exact model and age.
Your rifle is a Winchester catalog number G6901R equipped with the 80A rear peep sight. The Winchester Model G6901R was discontinued per Winchester C/H 27534 on July 22, 1958, with rifles to be assembled from parts on-hand until the remaining stock was exhausted. The model “G6901R” was officially dropped from the Winchester line on February 6, 1959 per the Winchester Product Change Announcement G317.
The magazine plates were never chromed on the G6901R, not sure where you read that but it is incorrect, they were Dulite blued.
Bert is correct that the “56” is when the barrel was made however your rifle was assembled later than that. It has the rounded forend tip 29″ stock which makes it a G6901R “Type 8” and is the last iteration of the G6901R made. Yours was likely assembled either late 1958 or very early 1959. When your model was discontinued it was replaced with the G6903R Junior Target Shooter’s Special peep sighted Model 69. Your rifle appears to be all original and correct with the exception of the added sling eyes to the stock.
They are great rifles and perfect for training or field as they are light and accurate.
Hope that helps. If you would like a copy of the new textbook on the Model 69/69A they are available here on the WACA website, just go to the store at the top of the page and select “books”.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Wow, thanks for that very detailed response! After lots of reading on this forum, I had a wierd feeling it was built later than 1956 but I couldn’t find anything definitive. Glad I asked.
Cool to know pretty much exactly when it was built! You gave me more information than I was expecting. I do appreciate your time and effort, I will check out your book.
As for the chrome plate, I probably misinterpreted that during my scouring of this forum – which was the only real information I could find.
I have fond memories of shooting that rifle as a kid, and now my sons are training with it. Eventually one of them will own it.
Thanks again, you are greatly appreciated!
Allan
Allan M said
Just to be clear JWA, the sling eyes are aftermarket?
Yes, they are aftermarket. Winchester offered optional sling swivels via special order but those aren’t them.
They certainly make the rifle easier to carry, and with the right sling, more accurate. Many .22s had them added by owners.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Hi,rnI bought mine new at a local hardware store. I thought it was 1955, or even 1954 but 1956 sounds good. I was born Sept 1940. I bought it with my paper route money. I paid $30.00 for it. It had an all wood stock which today is still in perfect condition. I removed the peep sight and put a $10.00 4 power scope. The trigger guard was not blued so I did that myself. it was an extremely accurate rifle. My father in law had many custom rifles that he made beautiful custom stocks for. We would go target shooting and he set up a wood rack with about 10 strings hanging down and would clip clay pigeons to it. He would shoot first then I would shoot the remaining bits still held by the clothespins. It made him mad that my little 22 was more accurate than his 30-06, 257 Robert’s or a 270. When he passed away my mother in law offered those rifles to me for $400 and I couldn’t buy them because I didn’t have the money. I am surprised to see that my $30 rifle sells for much more now. Enjoy yours it’s a tough old gun.
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